Ford EcoSport (2013-2023) Buyer’s Guide

Eyeing a used Ford EcoSport? Read our buyer’s guide, which examines the long-running crossover’s history in SA, outlines its strengths and weaknesses, and looks at what you can expect to pay on the used market…

Back when Ford whipped the wraps off the B515-generation EcoSport at the dawn of 2012, the concept of building a small crossover on a popular front-wheel-drive hatchback’s underpinnings was still a relatively fresh one. It meant the Blue Oval brand’s Fiesta-based, B-segment SUV had very few direct rivals early in its life.

Fast-forward around a decade and that’s certainly no longer the case. Today, virtually every mainstream manufacturer has a contender jostling for attention in this space, while a sub-segment of even more compact budget options has since also emerged. Still, the long-in-the-tooth EcoSport – which, we should point out, is pronounced “Echo-Sport” – has soldiered on in South Africa. At the time of writing, production has already been discontinued in both India and Romania, though Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa still had a stockpile of new units.

For the record, the original EcoSport (debuting in 2003 and codenamed BV226) wasn’t offered outside a handful of Latin American countries. Though the 2nd-generation version was billed as a global product and ended up being sold in Europe, China and eventually even the United States, it likewise had strong links to emerging markets. Yes, much of its development was assigned to Ford’s Brazilian arm, while initial production took place both in that country and in India.

When the EcoSport touched down in South Africa, the Dearborn-based firm’s local division predicted it would be “a game changer” for the brand. That’s exactly what ended up happening, with the little crossover proving exceedingly popular on local soil, where it long held the title of South Africa’s strongest-selling compact crossover (and Ford’s most popular passenger vehicle).

Specs of Ford EcoSport variants

First previewed at Auto Expo 2012 in India, the B515-gen EcoSport was then shown at Beijing’s 2012 Auto China before being displayed at the Paris Motor Show in Europe later that year. The first examples rolled onto dealership floors in South Africa by August 2013, shortly after the arrival of the ill-fated C520-generation Kuga.

At launch, the local EcoSport range offered the choice of 3 trim levels (Ambiente, Trend and Titanium), 3 engine options (an atmospheric 1.5, a turbocharged 1.0 and a turbodiesel 1.5) and 2 transmission variants (a 5-speed manual and a 6-speed auto), resulting in a 6-strong initial line-up:

• EcoSport 1.5 (82 kW/138 Nm) Ambiente 5-speed manual
• EcoSport 1.0 EcoBoost (92 kW/170 Nm) Trend 5-speed manual
• EcoSport 1.5 TDCi (66 kW/205 Nm) Trend 5-speed manual
• EcoSport 1.5 TDCi (66 kW/205 Nm) Titanium 5-speed manual
• EcoSport 1.5 (82 kW/138 Nm) Titanium 6-speed auto
• EcoSport 1.0 EcoBoost (92 kW/170 Nm) Titanium 5-speed manual

SA’s Indian-built EcoSport range continued largely unchanged for the next 5 years or so, though the 1.5 TDCi did quietly have it peak power hiked to 74 kW at some point. In June 2018, however, after local sales had crossed the 45 000-unit barrier, a facelifted version finally hit the local market. It offered revised styling, a significantly upgraded interior and a fresh mix of derivatives (including new transmissions, with the problematic dual-clutch cog-swapper ditched in favour of a conventional torque-converter ‘box). The naturally aspirated 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine fell away, while the 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder EcoBoost mill provided urge for 4 of the 5 variants.

Though the oil-burning 1.5 TDCi engine carried over to the refreshed range, it was available only in entry-level Ambiente form. At this point, the diesel-powered derivative was the only version still being imported from Chennai in India, with the 1.0 EcoBoost variants being sourced from Ford’s Craiova plant in Romania instead.

About 5 months later, Ford Motor Company of SA added a new base model to the range, bringing in the 1.5 Ambiente from India. Fitted with a 5-speed manual as standard, the entry-level derivative employed a new naturally aspirated 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder engine (rather than the old 4-pot), which developed 91 kW and 150 Nm.  

By April 2020, the 1.5 Ambiente gained the option of a 6-speed automatic transmission, while the mid-tier Trend and top-spec Titanium 1.0 EcoBoost models scored handy specification updates. Both gained a pre-collision assist feature and a new underbody protection plate, while Trend derivatives furthermore upgraded to cruise control and Titanium flagships to front parking sensors (in addition to the standard rear items).

A year later, the limited-edition EcoSport Black hit the market. Based on the self-shifting 1.5 Ambiente, the special model featured black finishes for items such as the grille, skid plate, roof rails, side-mirror caps and rear-mounted spare-wheel cover. The roof was likewise painted black, while the 15-inch steelies were binned in favour of (black) 16-inch alloys. This model was further distinguished by bold black decals applied to its bonnet and along its flanks.

In May 2022, another special-edition model touched down in the form of the EcoSport Active. Using the Trend 1.0 AT derivative as a base, the Active-badged variant gained a black finish for its grille, headlamp surrounds, foglamp bezels, side-mirror caps and roof rails, as well as black skirts (fore and aft). It furthermore featured privacy glass for the rear windows, leather upholstery, a black roof and black chunky wheel-arch cladding to frame the model-specific 17-inch alloy wheels.

What are the advantages of a Ford EcoSport?

Standard safety equipment: While you might not expect a vehicle that debuted locally as long ago as 2013 to feature a comprehensive list of safety kit as standard, that was exactly the case with the EcoSport. At launch, every derivative shipped with 6 airbags, ABS and IsoFix child-seat anchors, though only the Titanium trim level boasted electronic stability control and emergency brake assist.

With the 2018 facelift (and the switch to mostly Romania-built models), electronic stability control was made standard across the range, while all grades bar the base Ambiente (which was still manufactured in India) additionally scoring hill-launch assistance, roll-stability control and tyre-pressuring monitoring, while also upgrading to 7 airbags.

Ride quality and ground clearance: Despite making do with a relatively unsophisticated torsion-beam suspension set-up at the rear, the EcoSport featured a fairly well-judged ride (the high-profile tyres certainly helped), even if it wasn’t nearly as sharp to drive as the Fiesta from which it pilfered its underpinnings. Relatively softly sprung and benefitting from plenty of ground clearance (206 mm, to be precise), the little crossover made for an adept gravel traveller, despite no 4×4 option being offered in South Africa.

Potential for fuel economy: The most fuel-frugal engine in the range was the 1.5 TDCi, which boasted a claimed combined economy figure of just 4.6 litres per 100 km. Drawing from a 52-litre tank, this turbodiesel derivative thus boasted a potential range of more than 1 100 km. Of course, the 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder EcoBoost unit – famously small enough to stand on an A4 sheet of paper – grabbed all the headlines, sipping at a claimed 5.7 litres per 100 km when fitted with the 5-speed manual gearbox and 5.4 after gaining an extra forward cog at the facelift (that figure increased to 6.3 when specifying the 6-speed auto).

However, be warned there have been numerous complaints from 1.0 EcoBoost buyers who have been unable to achieve consumption figures even remotely close to the claims. Early versions (pre-2014) of this high-compression motor were furthermore known to suffer from coolant leaks, sometimes leading to overheating and blown head gaskets. In addition, Ford recalled certain 2018-2020 models, which it said “may be susceptible to low speed pre-ignition, due to local fuel quality”, resulting in an engine misfire, a loss of power and difficulty starting. Dealers were authorised to update the powertrain control module as a fix.

What are the disadvantages and problems of the Ford EcoSport?

Awkward side-hinged rear door: One of the EcoSport’s defining design features was its side-hinged rear door. However, this quirky configuration made it impossible to gain full access to the luggage compartment when space behind the vehicle was limited (such as in crowded parking lots or when the vehicle was reverse-parked close to a wall or bollard). The hinge was furthermore positioned on the left, which made for tricky loading and unloading of goods when parked on the left side of the roadway, as required by law in South Africa.

As an aside, the tailgate-mounted spare wheel made it impossible for Ford to offer a reversing camera, though it did free up boot space. The latter came in at a reasonable 377 litres in pre-facelift form, a figure that interestingly fell to 333 litres with the mid-cycle update (though a nifty adjustable floor was introduced at this point).

PowerShift problems (pre-facelift): The 6-speed dual-clutch transmission fitted to the pre-facelift 1.5-litre version of the EcoSport (as well as certain Fiesta and Focus models) tended to suffer from leaking seals that quickly led to oil contamination of the dry clutch module. This was a known fault – Ford even faced legal action in many countries and replaced countless clutches under warranty – that resulted in excessive juddering as well as jerking under acceleration. Thankfully, in the local EcoSport line-up, this PowerShift transmission was employed only by the 1.5 Titanium, with the Blue Oval brand switching to torque-converter automatic gearboxes at the 2018 facelift.  

Fairly low-rent cabin (pre-facelift): Though the pre-facelift EcoSport’s button-festooned dashboard shared much in terms of design with the Cologne-produced Fiesta, the quality of the materials used in the Indian-built model was not nearly as high. Thankfully, with the facelift introduced in 2018, the EcoSport interior gained a fresh, far less-cluttered fascia design and noticeably improved material quality (particularly in the case of the Romanian-sourced variants).

Security-system shortcomings: In 2019, after facing a raft of complaints on social media, Ford Motor Company of SA said it was “aware” of potential security system problems with “certain older” EcoSport and Fiesta vehicles. The issues related to vulnerabilities around the key-lock barrel as well as alarm systems that failed to sound when the locks were tampered with. The automaker offered customers various potential remedies at “below cost”, insisting the break-ins were “not related” to design or manufacturing faults on its part.

For the record, the 2018 mid-cycle update saw security bolstered somewhat, with the refreshed EcoSport featuring a perimeter alarm, remote central locking (with drive-away auto locking function) and what the firm described as “new anti-theft door locks”. The Trend and Titanium models furthermore scored a Thatcham alarm with double dead-locking.

Ford EcoSport Price in South Africa?

At launch, the EcoSport shipped standard with a 4-year/120 000 km warranty and a 4-year/60 000 km service plan. Service intervals were set at 20 000 km in the case of the petrol derivatives and 15 000 km for the diesel motor. Take note, however, Ford Motor Company of SA “unbundled” service plans from the purchase price of all its models from the start of November 2021, effectively making such plans optional. Regardless, as we always advise, give preference to vehicles sporting full service histories.

Of the used Ford EcoSport stock listed on Cars.co.za at the time of writing, 86% featured a petrol engine (the 1.0 EcoBoost being the most common), with the 1.5 TDCi thus accounting for only 14% of listings. Fascinatingly, the split between manual and automatic transmissions was far closer to even, with the former edging ahead on 56%.

We found as many as 8 vehicles with more than 200 000 km on their respective odometers, all featuring either a 1.5-litre petrol engine or the oil-burner of the same capacity (and a manual cog-swapper). As you might have guessed, white (43%) was easily the most common exterior paint colour, followed by silver (22%), blue (11%) and grey (9%).

• Below R150 000: At the time of writing, all vehicles listed below this mark were pre-facelift models, though more than half interestingly had under 100 000 km on their respective clocks. There were only 3 examples featuring the problematic PowerShift transmission.

• From R150 000 to R300 000: This was the most densely populated pricing bracket, though most listings fell towards the upper end (many above R250 000). Somewhat unexpectedly, the 1.5-litre petrol engines (both the pre-facelift 4-pot and the 3-pot that followed from 2018) were the most common motors here, while this was also where the majority of the 1.5 TDCi mills were found. Trim levels ranged from early model-year Titanium variants to late model-year Ambiente derivatives.

• From R300 000 to R400 000: Facelifted 1.0 EcoBoost models made up the overwhelming bulk of listings between these pricing bookends, with very few examples of the 1.5 TDCi appearing here (remember, after the mid-cycle update, the oil-burner was offered only in base trim). A whopping 70% of models here had an automatic gearbox.

• R400 000 and up: The few vehicles listed above this mark were all nearly new (the highest mileage was 17 000 km) examples of either the 1.0 EcoBoost Titanium or Active, each with an automatic transmission.

Pick of the range?

Identifying the pick of the EcoSport range isn’t as simple as one might expect. However, we’ll start with the advice to stick with facelifted models sourced from Romania wherever possible, as there are tangible quality (and indeed equipment) benefits compared with the Indian-built versions. We’d also suggest steering well clear of the pre-facelift 1.5 Titanium AT (yes, the derivative with the PowerShift problems).

Though we feel there’s a strong argument to be made for the punchy-yet-frugal 1.5 TDCi engine as the best of the bunch in pure powertrain terms, the fact it was available only in an Indian-built body (like the naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engines) – and latterly only in entry-level Ambiente trim – works against it here.

Since we’d generally recommend sticking to facelifted EcoSport models, that leaves us with the refined little 1.0 EcoBoost. The top-spec Titanium grade offers all the bells and whistles (including a larger touchscreen and leather upholstery), though the mid-tier Trend likely provides the best value proposition as well as a marginally more pliant ride thanks to its slightly smaller (16-inch) alloys. As a reminder, you have the choice of a 6-speed manual gearbox or a conventional torque-converter automatic transmission bearing the same number of cogs. Just be aware achieving Ford’s rock-bottom claimed fuel economy figures will be near-impossible.

Is a Ford EcoSport a good car to buy?

At the EcoSport’s local launch in 2013, it had few direct rivals, with only the likes of the original Renault Duster and Nissan Juke falling in a similar segment. Over the next decade, however, all manner of competitors emerged (some of which have since moved to a 2nd generation), from the Peugeot 2008, Hyundai Creta, Suzuki Vitara and Renault Captur to the Mazda CX-3 and even the Volkswagen T-Cross.

In addition, a throng of sub-4-metre budget crossovers from India has emerged, including the Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Toyota Urban Cruiser, Nissan Magnite and Mahindra XUV300. Despite the arrival of these aggressively priced models on the new-vehicle market, the EcoSport continued to prove popular with South African buyers.

There’s thus a wealth of stock on the used market today. While the Ford EcoSport certainly isn’t without its foibles – and it’s a great pity the diesel engine wasn’t available in the Romanian-built version – it nevertheless remains a contender worth adding to your small-crossover shopping list. Just bear in mind there are more modern rivals capable of outclassing the grey-haired Ford in various departments.

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